Issue - meetings

Resolved: to note the contributions to the review.

5.1      Peter North (Programme Manager, Sustainable Energy, Greater London Authority) introduced a presentation; the following key points were noted:

• A third of London’s CO₂ emissions were generated by heating.
• More energy was used to heat buildings in the UK than was used for transport or electricity generation. So in order to deliver reductions in CO₂, in buildings it would be necessary to increase the energy efficiency of buildings and how the energy is supplied.
• London had a target of 60% reduction in 1990 levels of CO₂ by 2025 alongside a target to supply 25% of its energy from local decentralised sources.
• The carbon content of electricity generation would be an important part of future work in this area.
• A public role was required in order to enable district energy.
• There were three main categories of decentralised energy projects: single sites utilising small/medium CHP systems; multi-site mixed use schemes: area wide transmission networks with extensive heat pipe systems.
• In 2011 the GLA carried out a decentralised energy capacity study. It was found that London had more capacity potential than the 25% target for decentralised energy set by the Mayor.
• The London Plan contains a range of specific policies to promote the development of decentralised in new developments.
• Insulation was the first and most important part of ensuring the efficient use of energy.
• Generating energy from renewables had proved difficult in the urban environment.
• Densely developed areas were the most suitable for decentralised energy schemes.
• Area planning was an important part of enabling the future connection of new developments to existing networks.
• London boroughs could be involved in the delivery of decentralised energy projects in a number of different ways. They might choose to deliver their own schemes, or they might only act as a planning authority, facilitating delivery by others.
• Development of energy master plans was a long process taking around six months from start to finish, but work had taken place in 10 boroughs to achieve a coordinated policy.
• The GLA’s EU funded technical, commercial and financial advisory services had helped develop a £300m pipeline of projects. The advisory support was running down and the GLA are proposing a successor arrangement that will operate until 2020.
• Two major projects were- Gospel Oak Hospital, and Islington Heat and Power scheme, the later connecting 850 dwellings providing 10% lower energy bills.
• Phase two of the Islington scheme sought to use waste heat from the underground and other sources.
• There were four energy from waste plants in and around the city, that could provide heat for tens of thousands of homes.
• SELCHP was finally providing heating to estates in Southwark after 15 years of operation as a power-only energy from waste facility..
• The future of heat networks would be to utilise heat lost from other processes - each would require technical availability and economic case.
• In order to meet the government’s carbon targets, decentralised energy and communal heating would need to be part of the solution.

5.2      Peter  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5